UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
DIRECTOR
FOR GIFT PLANNING
The University of Maryland seeks a highly energetic, creative, and
experienced gift planning professional to provide strategic management to the
University’s Great Expectation campaign.
The University
The flagship campus of the state of Maryland, the University of Maryland,
College Park, is one of the nation’s premier public research universities. Founded in 1856, the University of Maryland is
advantageously located nine miles from Washington, D.C. and 30 miles from Baltimore. The University is one of only 61 members in the
prestigious Association of American Universities. Seventy
academic programs rank in the top 25 nationally and 50 programs rank in the top 15. The
University attracts more than $350 million annually in sponsored research funds. The diverse community includes 25,000
undergraduates, 8,000 graduate students, and 11,000 faculty and staff. The University’s continued progress will
depend significantly on increased philanthropic support.
The University completed a $476 million fundraising campaign two years ago
and has just launched the “silent phase” of a new campaign. The planning goal of this comprehensive, seven-year
drive is $800 million.
The Position
Reports to: Senior
Director of Leadership Gifts
·
Responsible for enhancing,
implementing, and marketing a comprehensive gift planning program geared to securing major
and planned gifts from alumni, friends, faculty and staff for campaign priorities.
·
Assume a highly visible
role working with the institution’s leaders, fundraisers, and volunteers to devise
strategies to solicit support from a variety of constituencies, primarily from alumni and
non-alumni friends but also from charitable foundations and the corporate community.
·
Enhance and expand
membership in the Founder’s Society (the recognition group for all planned gift
donors, both living and deceased) and develop and implement a marketing and communications
plan for the program.
·
Serve as an
advisor/trainer to enhance gift planning skills of colleagues, volunteers, and donors.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Ø
Manage 100-150 major gift
prospects—qualify, cultivate, and solicit major prospects for gift planning.
Occasional travel required.
Ø Prepare proposals and other promotional and
descriptive materials, including a website, for gift planning opportunities with prospects
and donors.
Ø Develop and implement a comprehensive gift
planning fundraising, marketing and communications plan that is integral to the University
campaign.
Ø Partner with senior development staff and
college-based fundraisers, adding value to their gift planning efforts. Serve as an advisor and energizing force for the
major gift officers.
Ø Manage and expand the Founders Society Program.
Ø
Supervise an associate director of gift planning and
one support staff.
Qualifications
- Seven years or
more of experience in major gift fundraising with five years or more in gift
planning.
- A record of
ability to plan, execute, and market a sustained gift planning program. Knowledge of and
interest in planned giving vehicles.
- Experience in
higher education fundraising and experience in a public research university is desired.
Ability to work collaboratively and strategically with campus leaders, volunteers, and
other fundraising professionals.
- Record of closing
five-, six-, and seven-figure gifts.
- Superb
interpersonal skills and the ability to work collegially and effectively with diverse
groups of constituents and colleagues. Strong listening skills, excellent writing, oral
communication, critical thinking, and marketing skills required.
- Ability to manage
more than one initiative simultaneously.
- Bachelor’s
degree required, masters degree preferred.
Additional Information
The president, C. D. (Dan) Mote, comes from the leading
public university, the University of California at Berkeley, and his broad experience and
successful tenure at UC Berkeley is his greatest asset for leading the University of Maryland.
In addition to his faculty and administrative positions, he led a comprehensive capital
campaign that raised $1.4 billion. Now in his fifth year as president of the University
of Maryland, Dr. Mote has set an ambitious
agenda for academic achievement and facilities growth on the campus.
Candidates and sources, please communicate with:
Bob Sellery or Katie Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Email: wilson@sellery.com or sellery@sellery.com
FAX 202.333.1167 or 202.772.3101
Telephone: 202.331.0090
All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence.
R
OBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. , 10TH FLOOR WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20036 202.331.0090
sellery@sellery.com
